Hypodermic syringe holder and injector device

ABSTRACT

A hypodermic syringe holder and injector device for use in the injection of large animals; the device includes a barrel, a telescoping handle member slidably mounted in the barrel, a syringe and needle guard retainer removably secured to the barrel and a needle guard slidably mounted in the retainer wherein the device is operable by placing the end of the needle guard against the hide of an animal and then pushing on the handle to thus insert the needle into the hide and then to eject the contents in the syringe through the needle.

United States Patent [191 Wulff 451 Dec. 25, 1973 HYPODERMIC SYRINGE HOLDER AND INJECTOR DEVICE [76] Inventor: Goldwyn L. Wulff, 680 Nebraska Ave. S.W., Huron, S. Dak. 57350 [22] Filed: Dec. 10, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 206,787

[52] US. Cl. 128/218 R, 128/215, 128/218 P [51] Int. Cl A61m 5/22 [58] Field of Search 128/215, 216, 218 R,

128/218 P, 218 N, 218 A, 218 C, 218 D, 218 F, 220, 221, 234, 329; 206/43, 63.2 R; 294/1 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,114,370 12/1963 Kayler 128/218 F 3,494,358 2/1970 Fehlis et al.. 128/218 R 3,122,138 2/1964 Geary 128/215 2,664,086 12/1953 Transue.... [28/218 F 3,388,941 6/1968 Marcus 128/218 R 2,420,102 5/1947 Shuford.... 128/218 R 2,120,367 6/1938 Lewis 128/234 X 1,845,930 2/1932 Morrow 128/218 R 2,876,770 3/1959 White 128/215 3,539,034 11/1970 Tafeen 128/221 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,078,911 11/1954 France 128/218 F 1,362,060 4/1964 France 128/218 R 1,107,099 12/1955 France 128/218 R 1,014,881 6/1952 France 128/218 F Primary ExaminerRichard A. Gaudet Assistant Examiner.1. C. McGowan Attorney-Louis J. Strom et a1.

[57] ABSTRACT A hypodermic syringe holder and injector device for use in the injection of large animals; the device includes a barrel, a telescoping handle member slidably mounted in the barrel, a syringe and needle guard retainer removably secured to the barrel and a needle guard slidably mounted in the retainer wherein the device is operable by placing the end of the needle guard against the hide of an animal and then pushing on the handle to thus insert the needle into the hide and then to eject the contents in the syringe through the needle.

6 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures HYPODERMIC SYRINGE HOLDER AND INJECTOR DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The farmer, rancher and the veterinary have never been provided with a hypodermic syringe holder and injector for administering serum, antibiotics or like solutions to large amimals. In the past, it has been extremely difficult to inject solutions into one or more animals in the field because of the difficulty in approaching the animal and because of the possibility of physical harm to the person giving the injection.

If an animal is approached from the front or side, it will generally shy away. If approached from the rear, the sting of the needle piercing the hide or the discomfort caused by the solution is apt to cause the animal to kick or strike out. Only the most agile operator, under these circumstances, can avoid possible injury. To avoid these problems, holding chutes could be erected; however, the animal has to be cut out of the herd and herded or moved to the holding chute. An animal could also be roped and tied, but it is obvious that great skill and considerable manpower is required even if only one animal requires an injection of solution.

It has also been found that when an animal is injected with a hand syringe, that movement of the animal while the needle is piercing the hide can cause the needle to bend or go in at an angle. Many syringes provide for frictional engagement of the needle with the syringe body and an improper application whether caused by movement of the animal or by an inexperienced operator can cause the needle to bend, break or separate from the syringe body. Removal of a needle, whether broken or separated, can be difficult and dangerous to the operator. Of course, a bent needle is of no further use and must be discarded.

Dart guns have been developed wherein the operator can stand at a distance. Darts, however, are not always effective, they dont always drop off the animal after the charge therein has injected the solution, and the use often riles the whole herd because of the noise of the reaction of the injected animal.

Therefore, there is no apparatus available to satisfactorily inject a large animal in the field without endangering the operator, building holding chutes, or requiring considerable manpower.

Human syringe holders are also available. They were developed to permit a person to give his own injection; however, they areineffective for use on large animals because they dont alleviate the problem of approaching the animal, the operator still faces physical harm,

they dont protect the needle, they are not readily cleanable, they are not sturdy nor simple of construction, they dont protect the needle when not in use, nor do they substantially eliminate the possibility of bending the needle or losing the needle when in use.

SUMMARY or THE INVENTION mounted in the other end of. the barrel, a needleguard slidably mounted in the retainer, and a lock element operably interconnected between the retainer and the guard to prevent the needle from projecting outwardly of the guard when not in use.

In operation the syringe is filled with solution and placed in the retainer; the lock element is released and the operator, on foot, horseback or in a vehicle can approach the animal. At a distance of about 6 to 10 feet, the device can be placed against the hide and the handle can be pushed toward the animal thus causing the needle to be exposed and to enter the hide. A continued force on the handle causes the plunger to eject the solution through the needle and into the animal. The whole operation takes as little as a partial second of time. The animal feels the sting and may lunge or kick but the operator is a safe distance from the animal. The animal will most likely not even associate the discomfort with the user and thus not cause it to be wary of the other persons. As the shank of the needle is protected by the guard, as it is exposed, the possibility of breakage is remote. Furthermore there is no chance that the needle will separate from the syringe body.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an animal hypodermic syringe holder which permits the operator thereof to maintain a safe distance from the animal while he is injecting a solution into the animal.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a syringe holder which provides a housing for the syringe wherein when not in use, the needle is not exposed.

A further object of this invention is to provide a syringe holder which, when ready for use, permits the needle to be inserted into the animal before the contents of the syringe are ejected therefrom.

Yet another object of this invention is the provision of a hypodermic syringe holder which has a locking device incorporated therewith wherein the needle will remain in the holder even if it separates from the syringe body.

Yet a further object of this invention is the provision of a hypodermic syringe holder which is quick and easy to operate, yet it permits the user to maintain distance between himself and the animal.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of a syringe holder and injector which permits an animal in the field to be injected with solution by an operator on foot, on horseback or in a vehicle without first substantially immobilizing the animal.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a hypodermic syringe holder and injector device which is DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the hypodermic syringe holder of this invention with the needle of the syringe projecting therefrom;

FIG. 2 is an exploded-view thereof; FIG. 3 is asectional view of the handle thereof in locked position as taken along the lines 33 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the lines 4-4 in FIG- 1;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the lines 5-5 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the lines 6-6 in FIG. 1 with the needle in a retracted position;

FIG. 7 is a partial sectional view similar to FIG. 6 but with the needle projecting therefrom and the syringe shown in discharge position; and

FIG. 8 is a sectional'view taken along the lines 88 in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, the hypodermic syringe holder and injector device of this invention is shown generally at 10 in FIGS. 1 and 2. The device comprises a telescoping handle member 11 slidably mounted in one end of a barrel l2. Removably mounted in the other end of the barrel is one end of a syringe and needle guard retainer 13 and slidably mounted in the other end of the retainer 13 is. a needle guard 14. The retainer 13, barrel 12 and guard 14 provide a housing 16 for a conventional large animal hypodermic syringe 17.

The handle member 11 (FIGS. 2 and 3) includes an inner handle 18, an outer handle 19, a plug holding unit 21, a cap 22 and an end plug-guide unit 23. The outer handle 19 is formed from an elongated hollow cylindrical rod which has a plurality of aligned, longitudinally disposed, spaced holes 24 formed therein. Secured in one end 26 of the outer handle is the end plug guide unit 23 (FIGS. 3 and 4) which includes a plug 27 and a lag screw 28 or the like. The head 29 of the screw projects radially of the periphery of the outer member 18 and the screw shank 31 threadably extends through the outer wall into the plug 27. The purpose of the head 29 is described hereinbelow.

The inner handle 18 (FIGS. 2 and 3) is telescopically disposed in the outer handle 19, with one end 32 thereof projecting outwardly of .the outer handle other end 33 and having the cap 22 mounted thereon. Secured in the other end 34 (FIGS. 3 and 5) of the inner handle is the plug holding unit 21 which includes a plug 36 having a radially disposed passage 37 drilled partially therethrough. A spring 38 and a stub 39 having a flange 41 secured to the one end thereof are disposed in the passage with the stub and spring mounted in longitudinal alignment. An opening 40 is formed through the sidewall of the inner handle 18 at the other end 34 thereof. The other end of the stub 39 is dimensioned to slide through the opening 40 and one of the holes 24 of the outer handle 19; however, the stub flange 41 is larger than the opening 40 and the hole 24 thus preventing the stub 39 and spring 38 from sliding there through. Depending on the length of each handle 18 and 19 and the positioning of the stub 39 in one of the holes 24, the handle member 11 can be assembled to extend as much as 6 to 8 feet, is so constructed.

Referring next to the barrel 12 (FIGS. 1 and 6) it is found that it is also formed from an elongated, hollow, open-ended cylindrical rod. One end 42 of the barrel 12 is adapted to frictionally and slidably receive the outer handle one end 26. The barrel other end 43 is swedged outwardly or enlarged to removably receive the retainer 13. A slot 44 is formed in the wall of the barrel and extends longitudinally therein in the central part thereof, and a slit 46 is formed in the barrel one end 42 which extends longitudinally a short distance from said end. The handle unit 11 is mounted in the barrel 12 by sliding the outer handle 19 thereinto and then by threading the lag screw 28 into plug 27 with the head 29 extending into the slot 44 thus providing a limit to the length of travel of the outer handle 19 in the barrel 12.

The retainer 13 (FIGS. 2 and 7) is formed from a hollow open-ended cylindrical rod which is frictionally mounted in the barrel swedged end 43. Formed longitudinally in the side wall of the retainer 13 is a hookended slot 48 with the shank end 49 thereof extending to the upper end 51 of the retainer 13 and the hooked end 52 disposed near the lower end 53 of the retainer 13. A slit 54 formed in the retainer extends a short distance longitudinally from the lower end 53. The purpose of the slits 46 and 54 are described hereinafter.

Slidably disposed in the retainer 13 is the guard 14 (FIGS. 2 and 6). The guard 14 is formed from a hollow openended cylindrical rod and has an internal cap 56 secured in the outer end 57 thereof. The internal cap 56 has a conical-shaped opening 58 formed axially therein with the apex of the opening 58 extending through the cap 56 end wall. Secured to the periphery of the guard 14 at the inner end 59 thereof is a stub 61 which extends radially outwardly. ln assembly the guard 14 is slid into the retainer 13 from the retainer upper end 51 with the stub 61 extending into the retainer slot 48. V

The syringe 17 (FIGS. 2 and 6) includes a hollow barrel 64 substantially closed at one end 66 and open at the other end 67. A cap 68 is threadably mounted over the syringe other end 67 and has an axially drilled hole 69 formed therethrough. A piston rod 71 is slidably mounted in the barrel 64, and one end 72 having a flange 73 formed thereon projects outwardly through the hole 69. A piston 74 is mounted on the rod other end 76. Removably mounted on and projecting axially outwardly of the closed end of the barrel is a needle 77. With the piston 74 disposed against the cap 68 and the barrel 64 filled with solution the flange 73 can be pushed toward the cap 68 thus causing the piston 74 (FIG. 7) to move toward the needle 77 and thereby forcing the solution out of the barrel 64 and through the needle 77 in a conventional matter.

The internal part of a portion of the barrel 12, (FIG. 6), the retainer 13 and the guard 14 form the housing 16 for the conventional hypodermic syringe 17. It will be noted in FIG. 6 that the diameter of the syringe cap 68 is greater than the internal diameter of the retainer 13 thus the retainer upper end 51 provides a seat for the cap. Furthermore, the internal diameter of the barrel 12 above the swedged end 43 thereof is smaller than the diameter of the syringe cap 68, therefore upon assembly the cap 68 is disposed in the barrel swedged end 43 above the retainer upper end 51. The length of the retainer 13 and the guard 14, when the guard stub 61 is positioned in the slot hooked end 52, is slightly greater than the length of the syringe 17 between the outer end of the needle 77 and the cap 68. In operation, the syringe barrel 64 (FIG. 6) is filled with solution and the syringe I7 is disposed in the housing 16, with the guard stub 61 disposed in the retainer slot hooked end 52 and the outer handle one end 26 disposed adjacent the barrel one end42. The-device is now in a loaded locked transport position. To unlock the device the guard 14 is rotated slightly to move the guard stub 61 from the slot hooked end 52 into the slot shank end 49.

The animal to be injected with solution is then approached from the rear and when within a distance, not greater than the total length of the device, the handle member 11 is grasped and the guard internal cap 56 is placed against the hide of the animal. Pressure upon the handle member 11, toward the animal, causes the guard 14 to slide into the retainer 13 (FIG. 6) with the needle 77 entering the hide and flesh of the animal then causes the end plug 23 to contact the flange 73 of the syringe piston rod 71 and to push the latter into the syringe barrel thus ejecting the fluid therein through the needle and into the animal. In the event the frictional coaction between the guard 14 and retainer 13 is greater than the frictional coaction between the barrel 12 and the outer handle one end 26 then the frictional coaction must be adjusted at the slits 46 or 54 (FIG. 2) by either enlarging or narrowing the internal diameter of the retainer or the barrel adjacent the slits. In other words, the guard 14 must always slide into the retainer 13 before the outer handle 19 slides into the barrel 12.

The complete injection, once the device is placed in an unlocked transport position requires only a fraction of a second of time. As the needle enters the hide and flesh only that portion within the animal is not protected by the guard or guard opening thus the possibility of breaking or bending it is substantially eliminated.

Although a preferred embodiment of the hypodermic syringe holder and injector device has been described above, it is not intended to limit the invention thereto. For example, the internal diameters of the various elements could be enlarged and a holding means could be disposed in the housing to position the syringe. In addition, friction rings or the like could be disposed between the various sliding members to regulate the amount of pressure required to move one relative to the other, and the barrel and retainer could be removably secured together by threads or the like.

I claim:

l. A hypodermic syringe holder and injector device for holding a syringe having a hollow barrel, a cap mounted on one end of the barrel, a piston disposed in the barrel and connected to a piston rod which projects outwardly through the cap, and a needle secured to the other end of the barrel, the device comprising:

an elongated hollow open ended barrel having an enlarged portion formed therein proximate one end thereof wherein said barrel between said enlarged portion and said one end has a greater diameter than said barrel other end;

handle means having one end thereof slidably mounted in said barrel other end and having the other end thereof projecting rearwardly of said barrel;

syringe holding means having one end thereof mounted in said barrel one end and having the other end thereof projecting forwardly of said barrel other end, wherein the syringe cap seats in said barrel one end between said enlarged portion and said syringe holding means one end, and the syringe barrel is disposed in said syringe holding means; and

a hollow needle guard having one end slidably mounted in said syringe holding means other end and having the other end thereof projecting forwardly of said syringe holding means other end; wherein said handle means is slidable in said barrel from a first position near said barrel other end to a second position proximate said enlarged portion, and said guard is slidable from a first position wherein the syringe needle is disposed in said guard to a second position wherein the needle substantially projects forwardly of said guard other end.

2. A hypodermic syringe holder and injector device as defined in claim 1 wherein said handle means one end has a first stub secured to the periphery thereof which projects radially therefrom and said barrel has an elongated slot formed longitudinally through the side wall thereof for slidably receiving said stub, wherein the ends of said slot limit the movement of said handle means in said barrel.

3. A hypodermic syringe holder and injector device as defined in claim 1 wherein a releasable locking means is operably connected between said guard and said syringe holding means to lock said guard in said first position.

4. A hypodermic syringe holder and injector device as defined in Claim 3 wherein said locking means comprises a guard stub secured to the periphery of said guard and projecting outwardly therefrom, and a hookended slot formed longitudinally through the sidewall of said syringe holding means; said hook-ended slot provided to receive said guard stub therein, wherein said slot hook end slidably receives said guard stub in said first position, and upon rotating said guard in said syringe holding means said guard stub will be free to slide along said slot thus permitting said guard to slide to said second position when opposing forces are exerted in said guard other end and said syringe holding means other end.

5. A hypodermic syringe holder and injector device as defined in claim 2 wherein said handle means includes an outer hollow handle having a plug disposed in one end thereof and having said first stub secured to the periphery of said outer handle one end and projecting outwardly therefrom, an inner handle telescopically mounted in said outer handle, and stop means operably interconnecting said inner and said outer handles wherein said inner handle can be disposed in any of a plurality of predetermined positions relative to said outer handle.

6. A hypodermic syringe holder and injector device as defined in claim 5 wherein a releasable locking means is operably connected between said guard and said syringe holding means to lock said guard in said first position, said locking means comprising a guard stub secured to the periphery of said guard and projecting outwardly therefrom and a hook-ended slot formed longitudinally through the sidewall of said syringe holding means to receive said guard stub, wherein the hook end thereof receives said guard stub in said first position and upon rotating said guard in said syringe holding means said guard stub will be free to slide along said slot thus permitting said guard to slide to said second position when opposing forces are exerted on said guard other end and said syringe holding means other end. 

1. A hypodermic syringe holder and injector device for holding a syringe having a hollow barrel, a cap mounted on one end of the barrel, a piston disposed in the barrel and connected to a piston rod which projects outwardly through the cap, and a needle secured to the other end of the barrel, the device comprising: an elongated hollow open ended barrel having an enlarged portion formed therein proximate one end thereof wherein said barrel between said enlarged portion and said one end has a greater diameter than said barrel other end; handle means having one end thereof slidably mounted in said barrel other end and having the other end thereof projecting rearwardly of said barrel; syringe holding means having one end thereof mounted in said barrel one end and having the other end thereof projecting forwardly of said barrel other end, wherein the syringe cap seats in said barrel one end between said enlarged portion and said syringe holding means one end, and the syringe barrel is disposed in said syringe holding means; and a hollow needle guard having one end slidably mounted in said syringe holding means other end and having the other end thereof projecting forwardly of said syringe holding means other end; wherein said handle means is slidable in said barrel from a first position near said barrel other end to a second position proximate said enlarged portion, and said guard is slidable from a first position wherein the syringe needle is disposed in said guard to a second position wherein the needle substantially projects forwardly of said guard other end.
 2. A hypodermic syringe holder and injector device as defined in claim 1 wherein said handle means one end has a first stub secured to the periphery thereof which projects radially therefrom and said barrel has an elongated slot formed longitudinally through the side wall thereof for slidably receiving said stub, wherein the ends of said slot limit the movement of said handle means in said barrel.
 3. A hypodermic syringe holder and injector device as defined in claim 1 wherein a releasable locking means is operably connected between said guard and said syringe holding means to lock said guard in said first position.
 4. A hypodermic syringe holder and injector device as defined in Claim 3 wherein said locking means comprises a guard stub secured to the periphery of said guard and projecting outwardly therefrom, and a hook-ended slot formed longitudinally through the sidewall of said syringe holding means; said hook-ended slot provided to receive said guard stub therein, wherein said slot hook end slidably receives said guard stub in said first position, and upon rotating said guard in said syringe holding means said guard stub will be free to slide along said slot thus peRmitting said guard to slide to said second position when opposing forces are exerted in said guard other end and said syringe holding means other end.
 5. A hypodermic syringe holder and injector device as defined in claim 2 wherein said handle means includes an outer hollow handle having a plug disposed in one end thereof and having said first stub secured to the periphery of said outer handle one end and projecting outwardly therefrom, an inner handle telescopically mounted in said outer handle, and stop means operably interconnecting said inner and said outer handles wherein said inner handle can be disposed in any of a plurality of predetermined positions relative to said outer handle.
 6. A hypodermic syringe holder and injector device as defined in claim 5 wherein a releasable locking means is operably connected between said guard and said syringe holding means to lock said guard in said first position, said locking means comprising a guard stub secured to the periphery of said guard and projecting outwardly therefrom and a hook-ended slot formed longitudinally through the sidewall of said syringe holding means to receive said guard stub, wherein the hook end thereof receives said guard stub in said first position and upon rotating said guard in said syringe holding means said guard stub will be free to slide along said slot thus permitting said guard to slide to said second position when opposing forces are exerted on said guard other end and said syringe holding means other end. 